Note: The following article was written by Pastor Matt Landry of Castleton United Methodist Church about their partnership with Gleaners Food Bank to serve our neighbors over the last three summers.
“Do you have any food?”
It was a frequent question the staff received at Castleton United Methodist Church at 71st Street and Shadeland Avenue. People call, and some show up looking for food to help their family get through the week. I remember writing in an email a few years ago, “We have to get a food pantry to our part of the city.”
The closest food pantry that is open on a weekly basis is the Community Cupboard of Lawrence, which is a distance from the church.
After many conversations and planning with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, our church decided to take the lead in hosting a site for their Summer CARE (Community Action Relief Effort) Program, which introduced mobile food pantries in some of the most vulnerable areas of the Circle City.
The CARE mobile food pantry distributions run from June to August, which is a time of year that poses an additional need, with children being on summer break from school.
Castleton-area Mobile Food Bank Launched in 2023
Castleton UMC started hosting the mobile food pantry during the summer of 2023 at the Shadeland Shopping Center at 75th Street and Shadeland Avenue. We learned a lot during those three months that first summer.
First, we learned that the need right across the street is great. The number of families being served kept growing each week. We ended the summer by serving on average 500 families per week.
We learned a lot about how to line up cars, pass out food quickly and efficiently, and help with traffic flow.
We also got to meet so many neighbors that summer. There were volunteers from area faith communities, local hospitals, and businesses. It was really a community effort.
We also got to meet many of our neighbors who came to receive groceries for the week. There were many languages spoken and nations represented. It was great to see the wonderful diversity of our city among those who came.
The CARE mobile pantry continued in the summer of 2024 at the same location. The numbers were the same, with around 500 families per week being served. On one hand, it’s inspiring to see my church and the local community rally around this effort to assist families facing food insecurity. On the other hand, it is heartbreaking to see so many families in need.
The Heartbreak of Children Experiencing Food Insecurity in Indianapolis
Food costs have increased over the last few years. The strain is felt deeply by families and individuals who experience food insecurity. There have been many vehicles in line for the food distribution filled with kids hours before the food distribution begins.
I never want anyone to go without food, but when I see children who are food insecure, it breaks my heart. In a divisive culture, it seems like one thing we can agree on is that no one, especially children, should go hungry.
I saw a quote recently by the actor Jeff Bridges who said, “Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn’t.” That’s why so many people volunteered to serve in extreme heat and humidity every week over the summer to provide food.
2025 Brings a New Location
After many conversations, we decided to move it to our church campus at 71st Street and Shadeland Avenue. While we are hosting, we recognize this is a community effort for anyone facing need.
This year, we are hosting every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 3-5 p.m. On our first serving date in June, we served 378 families.
The second date we served 400 families and ran out of food after one hour and 15 minutes.
For our third summer distribution, we raised the amount of food we have from enough for 400 to enough for 500 families. Again, we ran out.
We try to predict how many families might come through week to week to provide enough, while also not leaving too much for the truck to take back to the Gleaners warehouse. We underestimated the response in June, so we will increase that number for the next two months.
No one should choose between paying rent and buying groceries.
If you feel led to respond to this need, then join us on a Tuesday this summer. It might be hot, but you’ll get to know some new people while serving, meet some neighbors, and share food with others. You can learn more and sign up at castletonumc.org/gleaners.
You Can Participate in Hunger Action Month
Even though we’ll wrap up our summer efforts in August, the month of September is Hunger Action Month across the nation.
It will also bring my third annual 30 Days of Catch for Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Yes, you read that right. I play catch with 30 different people for 30 straight days to raise money for Gleaners.
It’s been a lot of fun!
Over the last two years, I’ve been able to raise over $54,000 for Gleaners all by playing baseball.
I have played catch with…
- Two Indiana state senators
- A bishop
- Clergy colleagues
- Members of my church and community
- Three city-county councilors
- Randy Lewandowski, the GM of the Indianapolis Indians
- Rowdie, the mascot of the Indians
- The broadcaster of the South Bend Cubs
- A Sergeant of IMPD
- Two former Major League ballplayers
- Howard Kellman, the Hall of Fame broadcaster of the Indians
- Gregg Doyel of the IndyStar, who also wrote an article about me in September 2024
And many others.
Do you have a glove? Let’s play catch.
Reach out. Send me an email. We’ll play catch in September for Gleaners. Follow my 30 Days of Catch page on Facebook. If you are so inclined, you can also donate to my campaign (with 100% going to Gleaners Food Bank) by going to give.gleaners.org/catch2025.
In the month of September, everything raised will be matched for Hunger Action Month.
When I played catch with Fred Glass, the CEO of Gleaners Food Bank, he was wearing a hat that said, “Everybody vs. Hunger.” That’s a team we should all be on! Join me on this team!
Rev. Matt Landry
Castleton United Methodist Church
MattL (at) castletonumc.org
Amateur Baseball Player for Gleaners Food Bank